Sports practice video training system and method

ABSTRACT

A sports practice video training system and method for use by players practicing activities that have a visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses during his practice activity provides one or more video cameras positioned at selected positions relative to a practicing player and a monitor screen positioned immediately adjacent the visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses during practice, the video image transmitted to the monitor being selectively inverted horizontally to provide a mirror image, real-time view of the practicing player during his practice activity.

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the prior filing of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/720,844, filed Sep. 27, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to video training apparatus and methods for assisting a person improve proper form, style and motion in practicing a sports activity and more particularly to a method and apparatus for providing a practicing person real-time video images of himself on a monitor positioned in the visual target area of the player's sight during his practice activity.

It has long been known that it can be helpful to players of various sports to photograph and video record a practicing player during his practice activity and then afterward review or play back the photos and video so that the player may observe himself for proper form, style and movements, etc., in order to correct and improve his playing performance. Frequently the practicing player's instructor or coach will watch the video playback with the player and critique and instruct the player on points observed during the video playback.

This type of training method is often employed by golf instructors in working with practicing golfers, particularly since proper form, stance, style and motion are so critical to the golfing activity. When watching the playback together after the practicing golfer has completed a series of swings, etc., the instructor will typically point out errors and discuss changes that the player should endeavor to work on in subsequent practice activities.

While this after-the-fact observation of his earlier golf swing practicing has been shown to be a helpful and valuable instruction tool for assisting the player identify areas needing improvement or correction in stance, style and motion, such assistance is provided only at a point in time after his practice activity has been completed, and then obviously only from viewing his earlier practice from the standpoint of an observer effectively facing himself, as are the images provided on a monitor screen from a video camera.

It has however, been discovered through extensive experimentation that, in practicing sports activities that have a fixed visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses his sight during his practice activity, if a video monitor screen is positioned in the visual target area so that while the practicing player is focusing on the visual target area of his practice activity he is able to view real-time video image of himself practicing, the player can effectively observe himself during his practice activity as it is happening without impairing his practice. It has been discovered that by electronically inverting the video image shown on the monitor screen in the practicing player's view, and thereby effectively providing a mirror image view to the practicing player as he focuses on his target area, his brain is able to absorb the image without disruption of his focus on the target of his activity, in very similar manner to a person standing in front of a mirror and combing his hair. This corrected, real-time mirror-image observation of himself as he practices his activity provides the practicing player an immediate view of his stance, form and motion as it occurs, and thereby provides an enhanced, improved, and effective practice experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its basic concept this invention provides a sports practice video training system and method for golf and other sports which have a visual target area upon which the practicing player visually focuses during practice activity, the system and method arranged to capture video images of the player with at least one video camera and transmit the images to a video monitor screen positioned in the visual target area of the practicing player during his practice activity and selectively invert the image sent to the monitor screen, whereby the practicing player may view himself in real time from his own perspective during his actual practicing activity in order to observe, adjust and correct himself for proper stance, form, motion and other aspects important to his practice and improvement in his sport.

It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principal objective of this invention is achieved; namely, the provision of a system and method for improving the results of practice, training and instruction for sports having a visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses during his practice activity, and to overcome the limitations and disadvantages of video playback training systems of the prior art which provide only for subsequent, after-the-fact player review as an observer after each practice activity has been completed.

Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may utilize a plurality of video cameras positioned at selected positions relative to the practicing player, and switching means connects the cameras and the monitor screen to selectively send images, in either inverted or non-inverted form as needed, to the monitor screen positioned adjacent the target area of visual focus of the practicing player.

Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may also include a second monitor screen positioned for viewing by an instructor or trainer and which image may as desired be inverted or not inverted independently of the image on the monitor viewed by the practicing player.

Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may also include a video recorder and playback unit arranged to record video images captured for subsequent playback, selectively in inverted or non-inverted form as may be desired, for subsequent review by the practicing player at a later time.

A further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may be provided specifically as a golf swing training system and method arranged to position the video monitor screen in an underlying base structure arranged to support a practicing golfer, the monitor screen being positioned adjacent the location for a golf ball positioned on the base to be hit.

A further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may be adapted for use in connection with many various, different types of visual target type sport activities.

A still further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which improves and enhances the practice experience by permitting the practicing player's real-time viewing of himself from selected video camera angles during his practice activity.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred and illustrative embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention showing a practice tee area and the components of a golf club swing training system.

FIG. 2 is a vertical elevational view as viewed along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and showing the address position of a golfer during practice.

FIG. 3 is a lateral cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, foreshortened side elevational view of a second embodiment of the system and method of this invention arranged for use in connection with a basketball player practicing shooting free throws.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, foreshortened side elevational view of a third embodiment of the system and method of this invention arranged for use in connection with a practicing bowler.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The sports practice video training system and method of this invention is arranged for use by persons practicing various different, visual target-type sports activities represented in the drawings herein in the form of golf, basketball and bowling. For purposes herein, the term visual target-type activities identifies activities in which the practicing players visual attention is focused on a single, specific, target area during his practice activity. In this, the target area in golf is the area in which the ball to be hit is located. As is well known, the golfer's visual focus is maintained on that target location throughout substantially all of his swing practice activity. Similarly, in practicing shooting free throws in basketball, the practicing player's visual attention is focused on the hoop and net area secured on the basketball backboard. In bowling, the target area of the player's visual attention is directed toward the pin end of the alley during practice. Many other sports activities require the player's visual focus on a particular target area during his practice, and the foregoing examples are merely illustrative of this type of sports activity. In all such cases, since the player's visual focus is substantially trained on a single target area during practice, the provision of a video monitor screen of the system of this invention adjacent the target area of the player's focus is both possible and practicable for operation during the player's practicing.

With the foregoing understood, the method and components of the system of this invention will now be described in detail in connection with a first embodiment arranged particularly for operation in connection with a practicing golfer. In this regard, in its broad aspect, the golf club swing training system of the first illustrated embodiment of this invention provides for a practicing golfer's own real-time viewing and, if desired, the visual recording of the practicing golfer from selected, diverse camera positions, through a complete swing of a golf club from the address position through the back swing, down swing and follow through positions relative to the fixed position of a teed golf ball.

FIG. 1 shows the relative positions of components of the system which afford use by right-handed or left-handed golfers and the golfer's own viewing of images of the golfer throughout the complete process. The views may be recorded for subsequent replay for viewing and evaluation of correct and incorrect positions of golf club swing segments, for correction of faults.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show a practice tee structure 10 which includes pad 12 formed of a relatively firm material, such as a synthetic resin, and a cover pad 14 of polyurethane resin or other flexible and resilient material. Angular ramp components 16 preferably are provided for the ends of the tee structure 10 to facilitate stepping onto and leaving the base. A central opening 18 in the tee structure 10 is configured to removably receive a video monitor 20 which is protected by a transparent cover 22 with peripheral wall 24 made of polycarbonate or other suitable plastic material.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an illustrative arrangement of video cameras positioned to provide selective viewing of a practicing player P from various angles. Thus, the illustrated footprints 26 of a right-handed player are shown positioned on the practice tee 10 facing the television monitor 20 and grasping the hand grip 28 of a golf club shaft 30, with the golf club head 32 positioned behind a golf ball B supported on a tee 34 for driving the ball in the direction of arrow 36. Although the golf ball is shown located on the side of the television monitor 20 opposite the footprints 26, it is to be understood that the golf ball may be supported on a tee 38 located on the same side of the monitor 20 as the footprints 26, by moving the practicing player further back from the monitor on the base 10. It is to be understood that the exact position of the footprints 26 will vary to accommodate the height and stance of a practicing player.

The alternative positions of the golf ball B also afford use of the golf club swing training system by left-handed practicing players, as indicated by the footprints 26′ shown in broken lines to hit golf balls in the same direction 36 as from the right-handed player position. The alternative tees 34, 38 may be selected for use as desired, as previously discussed.

One or more video cameras are positioned at various locations relative to the base 10 in order to provide views of a practicing player P positioned at footprints 26 or 26′ from different aspects relative to the golf ball B on a tee, for analyzing the swing components of the player for correction of swing faults. Thus, in the preferred form illustrated, a camera 40 is located to face the oncoming golf ball B struck by a right-handed practicing player P positioned at the footprints 26, or a left-handed player positioned at the footprints 26′. Camera 42 shows views of a player from the rear side direction of a golf ball B, also for analysis.

Additionally or in the alternative, front and rear views of a player P at the positions of the footprints 26 and 26′ are provided by cameras 44 and 46, respectively, for evaluation of stance and swing.

An overhead camera 48 may be positioned above the television monitor 20 to provide top views of players positioned at the footprints 26 or 26′ for stance and swing analysis.

A video scan inverter apparatus 50 interconnects the television monitor 20 and the cameras to a controller means, shown herein as selector switch 52, for choosing which of the various cameras is to be activated to provide the monitor with images of a practicing player at the footprints 26 or 26′ in a desired orientation relative to a teed golf ball B. Video recordings and later playback of selected views may be made available by a recorder 54 between the monitor 20 and inverter 50.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, on viewing the monitor 20 during a practice swing of a golf club, the views from the various video cameras are views from the perspective of “an observer” looking at the golfer. Therefore, the view shown on the monitor screen in many cases is horizontally reversed relative to the the perspective of the practicing golfer. Accordingly, the image sent to the monitor screen is horizontally inverted by inverter 50 so that the video image seen by the practicing golfer is a mirror image that corresponds to an image of himself or herself from his or her own perspective. This is important since the golfer is viewing the monitor screen in real-time as he is practicing his swing, and therefore the image he is viewing on the screen at the same time needs to represent a view from his own perspective, rather than from that of the camera or an observer's view of himself.

In this, the image of a practicing golfer taken from a video camera facing the golfer represents the view of an observer facing the practicing golfer, and thus the video image transmitted normally to the monitor screen is that of a view facing the golfer. Thus, when a right handed golfer begins his backswing to his right, the image of the golfer on the monitor screen shows the golfer's backswing moving to the left on the monitor screen. Since these views are in real time, this view is incompatible with the golfer's perception of his movements.

Accordingly, the video image must be inverted horizontally, thereby producing effectively a mirror image view such that the image on the screen will reflect movement of the golf club toward the right on the screen just as the golfer's movement is to his right. This inverted image is therefore similar to the image that a person sees when standing in front of a mirror and moving his right arm outwardly to the right, the image he sees in the mirror is of his arm moving in the same rightward direction.

Conversely, selected camera views, such as a view from behind the golfer, as in a rear view of a right-handed golfer taken from camera 46 in FIG. 2, would not be inverted horizontally, since the image on the monitor screen corresponds to the golfer's perspective. Also, a second remote monitor 20A may be provided for separate viewing in either inverted or non-inverted format, as may be desired by an instructor, for concurrent viewing by the instructor and later playback viewing by the golfer, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The manner of operation and use of the golf swing training system of this invention is as follows: Let it be assumed for this discussion that a right-handed player wishes to view his or her golf club swing while also being analyzed by a professional instructor. The player takes the stance at or near the footprints and extends the head 32 of a golf club into position behind the golf ball B or behind a ball supported on tee 38. The instructor adjusts the selector 52 to activate camera 40 to provide a side elevational image of the player in position to drive a golf ball B in the direction 36, as in FIG. 1. Both instructor and golfer now may analyze the position of the hands on the golf club to determine whether the hand grip on the club is appropriate. The instructor may adjust the selector 52 to activate camera 42 in order to view the players handgrip from the rear side elevation, to further evaluate the handgrip position. These side elevations also enable the instructor and golfer to evaluate the posture and feet position for correction.

Similarly, images of the player P from cameras 44 and 46 provides front and rear elevational images, respectively, of the practicing player for further evaluation of the stance, handgrip and swing components. In addition, activation of overhead camera 48 enables evaluation of the player's body movements during the swinging of a golf club from the initial stance at the ball, through the backswing, the downswing and the follow through after impact with a golf ball B, to the end position of the swing.

As discussed previously, it has been found that the system of this invention enables a practicing player to view on the monitor 20 his or her swing simultaneously with the player striking a golf ball from a tee 34 or 38.

It is to be noted that the views described hereinbefore are shown on the television monitor 20 inverted by inverter 50 from the camera images which would otherwise be horizontally 180° out of phase. These inversions are made so that the viewer sees the player in proper perspective and orientation from his own standpoint rather than that of an observers. The image would also be inverted vertically 180° for viewing by a left-handed golfer positioned on the opposite side of the monitor 20, as indicated in footprints 26′.

The golf club swing training system described hereinbefore enables a method for monitoring the golf club swing of a practicing player for analysis and correction of faults, by viewing the practicing player from various orientations with video cameras during golf club swing, inverting the images of the video cameras to present them in proper orientation on the television monitor, and producing the inverted images as desired, selectively in sequential segments one at a time for analysis and subsequent correcting of faults in the swing, as well as providing continuous real-time video to the practicing golfer throughout the entire swing process. A second monitor 20A may be located away from the base 10 for viewing by an instructor at a remote location, and a video recorder 54 may be provided to record the video for subsequent viewing of recorded video of the golfer by both instructor and golfer in traditional after-the-fact viewing instruction.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the present invention utilized for practicing other, diverse target-type sports. In FIG. 4 the system is arranged for use with a basketball player practicing free throws. FIG. 5 shows the system in use with a bowler releasing a bowling ball onto a bowling lane. In all of these illustrations the player P has view of his or her movements in real-time,during the practice play on a monitor positioned, as in the first, golfing embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, at the target area of the players focus during practice.

In regard to the embodiment of FIG. 4, one or more video cameras 40′, 42′, 44′, 46′, 48′ may be positioned relative to a practicing basketball player P as previously described in connection with the golfer in the previous embodiment, as will be apparent. The cameras are connected through a control means, inverter means, and if desired recorder means, such as has been described previously, to a video monitor screen 20′ positioned in the visual target area of the players focus which, as is well known in basketball, is the hoop and net 56 area of the basketball backboard 58. Accordingly, as indicated in FIG. 4, a large video monitor screen 20′ is preferably positioned behind the transparent backboard 58 for viewing by the practicing player as he shoots free throws.

In the third illustrative embodiment of the system of this invention as shown in FIG. 5, one or more video cameras 40′-48′ are positioned as previously described relative to a practicing bowler P, and a large video monitor screen 20′ is positioned as shown at the pin-end of the alley adjacent the visual target area of the bowler during his practice. In both the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, the previously described aspects, operation and function of the system of this invention and the video training method of this invention previously described in connection with the golf swing training embodiment are substantially identical.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural arrangements, and the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of the parts of the system now described, and the features, order and steps of the training method of the present invention described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A sports practice video training system for use with persons practicing target-type sports activities having a stationary visual target area upon which the practicing person visually focuses during his execution of the practice activity, the video training system comprising: a) a video monitor screen positioned adjacent the visual target area of a practicing person and arranged for viewing by the practicing person while executing the practice activity, b) at least one video camera positioned to produce video images of the practicing person executing a practice activity, and c) control means for interconnecting said at least one video camera and the video monitor screen for selectively transmitting video images from the video camera to the monitor screen for real-time viewing by the practicing person as he executes the practice activity.
 2. The video training system of claim 1 including means for selectively inverting video images transmitted to said monitor screen for producing a substantially mirror-image view of images produced by said at least one video camera on said monitor screen.
 3. The video training system of claim 1 including a plurality of video cameras positioned at various, different positions selected to produce video images of the practicing person from different, selected positions angularly relative thereto, and said control means includes selector switch means for selecting the video camera image transmitted to said monitor screen.
 4. The video training system of claim 1 including video recorder means for recording video images transmitted to said monitor screen for subsequent playback and review after a practice activity has been completed.
 5. The video training system of claim 1 including a second monitor screen positioned for separate viewing of transmitted video images by an instructor concurrently with the practicing person's viewing of the monitor screen positioned adjacent the visual target area during practice activity.
 6. A golf club swing video training system, comprising: a) a base configured for supporting a practicing player and a golf ball to be hit, b) a video monitor mounted on said base adjacent a position a golf ball to be hit is supported on the base, for viewing of the monitor by a practicing player on the base during club swing practice activity, c) at least one video camera mounted relative to the base for producing video images of a practicing player during a golf club swing by the player and d) control means for interconnecting said at least one video camera and monitor for selectively transmitting video images from the camera to the monitor.
 7. The golf club swing video training system of claim 6 including tee means on the base for supporting a golf ball for striking by a practicing player.
 8. The golf ball swing video training system of claim 6 wherein the video monitor is positioned within the confines of the base for viewing by a practicing player.
 9. The golf club swing video training system of claim 6 wherein the base accommodates both right-handed and left-handed practicing players, one at a time, for driving golf balls in the same direction from the base.
 10. The golf club swing video training system of claim 6 including video scan inverter means for inverting video camera images displayed on the video monitor for viewing on the video monitor during club swing practice.
 11. The golf club swing video training system of claim 6 including a plurality of video cameras positioned for viewing a practicing player during a golf club swing, and also including selector switch means for connecting the video cameras one at a time to the video monitor for producing selected video images of a practicing player during a golf club swing.
 12. The golf club swing video training system of claim 6 wherein a) the video monitor is positioned within the confines of the base for viewing by a practicing player, b) tee means is positioned on the base for supporting a golf ball for striking by a golf club held by a practicing player, c) the base is arranged to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed practicing players, one at a time, for driving golf balls in the same direction from the base, d) a plurality of video cameras are positioned for producing images of a practicing player from different angles during a golf club swing, e) selector switch means is provided for connecting the video cameras one at a time to the video monitor for producing selected video images of a practicing player during a golf club swing, and f) video scan inverter means interconnects said video cameras and monitor for inverting video camera images for viewing on the video monitor.
 13. A method of monitoring the sequence of movements of a practicing player, comprising providing video images of the player to a video monitor screen positioned for viewing by the player during execution of practice activity.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein providing video images includes inverting the video images for viewing.
 15. A sports practice video training method comprising positioning at least one video camera in selected positions relative to a practicing person to produce video images of the practicing person during a practice activity, and positioning a video monitor screen adjacent the visual target area of the practicing person's visual focus during practice activity, and selectively transmitting images from the at least one video camera to the monitor screen for real-time viewing of the transmitted images by the practicing person during his execution of a practice activity.
 16. The video training method of claim 15 including inverting the video image transmitted to the monitor screen for viewing by the practicing person during execution of the practice activity. 